The Annual Flower Show returns to the Orleans County 4-H Fair this year and organizers are encouraging entries.
The Fair will be held July 25 through 30 and this year’s Flower Show is sponsored by the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension and 4-H Youth Development.
Amanda Mrzywka is part of the 4-H team and is working to organize the show. She says there are open and junior divisions and anyone is welcome to enter. “If you have baskets that are thriving, take them down and bring them to the show for a week,” Mrzywka says.
There are ten categories for entries: Cut flower bouquet (single or multiple stems); kissing ball design – Mrzywka says the balls are made by pushing floral material into a round oasis; miniature gardens or fairy gardens; dried flower or dried flower bouquets; edible container arrangement; houseplants; made for the shade; bountiful baskets; fun in the sun – pedestal or regular urns for sun; and painting or drawing of a flower or garden.
Mrzywka says entries can be brought to the Lartz Building on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds Friday, July 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. This is the pre-registration entry time and each entry will be $2 per person per entry. Regular registration will be held Saturday, July 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost per entry on Saturday is $5.
The entry fees are new this year and Mrzywka says they help cover costs of judging, ribbons and prizes.
Judging of entries will take place at 9 a.m. on Sunday, July 24. Mrzywka says first, second and third place ribbons will be awarded in each category, and at the judge’s discretion, an honorable mention will be awarded. She says the honorable mention is the “top overall prize” for the show. Entries will remain at the Flower Show booth throughout fair week.
New this year is a garden design contest. Members of local garden clubs will be creating gardens on the fairgrounds with the theme of “Together we Bloom.” Judging of the Garden Design Contest is Monday, July 25 at 4 p.m.
Again this year, a Fresh Bouquet Competition will be held on the evening of Wednesday, July 27. The competition is open to the public. The entry fee costs $10 and participants can register at the fair office during fair week.
Mrzywka says exhibitors will receive a free one-day fair pass – a $5 value. If desired, the one day pass can be turned-in for a discounted $10 weekly pass. The weekly pass is a $15 value.
Complete rules for the Flower Show can be found at cce.cornell.edu/orleans. Call 798-4265 for more information.
